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Apple learns a wireless lesson
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There's no doubt Apple put the wireless industry to shame a year ago when it introduced its revolutionary iPhone. Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and other handset makers had been making cell phones for years but none of them had been able to come up with a device that was as user-friendly and as intuitive as Apple's iPhone.
Riding on its success, Apple introduced the iPhone 3G in July to much fanfare. But just a month after its debut, the device has been hit with a wave of criticism and--as of yesterday--a lawsuit. The iPhone 3G reportedly drops calls frequently and is unable to maintain a connection to AT&T's 3G network. Not all iPhone 3G devices are experiencing problems but there are enough to cause a flurry of complaints from consumers.
What Apple is experiencing is not uncommon in wireless--problems occur with handsets and with wireless networks. But this type of criticism is unprecedented for Apple. "Everyone has problems. And there have been some very big problems with cell phone battery recalls and other things in the past," says Iain Gillott, founder of iGR Research. "The difference is that the expectation was very high for this product and for Apple."
I've heard lots of theories about what is causing the iPhone 3G problems. Some believe there's a problem with the Infineon chip. Others believe it is a software glitch. Whatever the issue is, I'm surprised it wasn't picked up during the rigorous handset testing that must be performed on all carrier networks before a new mobile handset is released to the public.
Nevertheless, it seems as if Apple is learning a lesson about wireless. RF networks are complex and fraught with potential problems--that's why rigorous network and handset testing is so critical prior to launch. -Sue
Comments
Posted by Willie Lu | August 22, 2008 - 5:42pm
Apple needs to listen to the advices from Wireless experts.
Apple is like a military org, never willing to listen to public. In early this year, I wrote to Tony Fadell (the GM of iPhone business unit) about the potential problems with the 3G iPhone architecture and the big problem with the 3G chipsets. But he never cared about my warnings, and thought I was a lier.
This is the first time in this world that someone was question about my ability. I had been designing over 400 brand models of mobile phone since 1997, and he did not believe my talents and qualifications.
Wireless is whylessly a different world from Mac and iPod. Apple needs to sit down to listen to other advices from wireless experts. Though Apple has Interdigital to back as partner, it needs to explore the wireless world seriously and carefully. As long as you sell it as a 3G phone, you must meet the basic requirement of 3G, otherwise consumers have rights to sue you on midleading, treating and other charges - that's the life!
Posted by DavidB | August 22, 2008 - 7:29pm
Sounds like this article SO wanted to say the rigourous testing normally done by ATT was skipped or abreviated in order to rush this phone to market. And if what Willie says is true, perhaps the article SHOULD have said that...
Much as people are frustrated by ATT delaying new Blackberry Bold, indications are it will launch when its right, not just to meet some artificial launch date. APPL should learn a thing or two from this 3G debacle.
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